Playing music from my Bionic through my Alpine CDA 105 head unit

[matto524]

I purchased the Alpine CDA 105 a year or so ago, when i had both an ipod and a non smart phone. Accordingly, i never had to sync my phone with my music library because it could not hold or play my music. Now that i have the bionic, i keep all my music on there, but it doesn't seem to be able to play music through the USB connection on the head unit. The HU came with an ipod adapter USB, but the USB to micro USB that came with the Bionic serves the same purpose for the Bionic, right? Its a real pain to have to keep my music updated on my bionic, for listening outside of the car, and then again on my ipod when i want to listen to music in my car. Not to mention having to sync through itunes and then the music app i use for my bionic. Any thoughts or ideas? PLEASE HELPPPP!!!!!

 

[86351lx]

The alpine doesn't have a aux heaphone input jack?

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[matto524]

It does, but, for some odd reason, both the USB and the aux input are in the back of the HU, which would require me to disassemble the HU, which is a long process in my 04 accord. I would much rather be able to charge my phone and listen to music at the same time. Plus, isn't sound quality better thru USB than aux?

 

[86351lx]

I could be wrong, but I don't believe our phones will output sound via usb. Unless you could find a headfone to usb conv cable? I don't really think there's any other options for you.

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[dramafreesince83]

Have you tried making sure the phone is set to "usb mass storage mode"?

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[brad92]

It should work. I use my DROID X on my Kenwood Excelon HU in my truck with USB and I've used it in my parent's F150 with Sync.

As said above, make sure the Bionic is in USB Mass Storage mode and the USB icon is in the notification bar. It will take a few seconds to read the music files on the phone.

Also, due to head unit limitations, you can only have 255 music files per folder. Any more than that and you will not be able to play all your music.

EDIT: unless you have a USB extension cable plugged into the USB port on the head unit (male USB to female USB), you will need to get to the back of your head unit and plug one in (or use a USB to micro USB cable. the one that came with your phone will work if its long enough).

If you don't have one that is long enough, check EBay. They are pretty cheap.

If you were closer, I'd help you install the cable since I've done a few stereo installs in different cars.

X

 

[matto524]

The USB extension cable is already plugged into the back of the HU, and I have the iPod adapter cord plugged into the end and my iPod plays with no problem. When I plug the micro USB into my bionic and the other end into the USB cord, even while in USB mass storage mode, the HU says DEVICE ERROR. Any ideas?

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[mattman5000]

I have that same head unit. I have a regular memory stick attached to the usb extension cable, which works fine. I seem to recall having that same device error problem the one time I tried to connect my Droid X a long time ago. I'll try to connect my phone again and let you know if it works. I'm at work right now and I don't think I have a micro USB cable with me, so it will probably be tonight or this weekend.

 

[k1ngr4t]

This is a controversial subject, but for a lot of Bionics you can only access the USB stuff with a Moto brand cable. It'll charge, but the icon won't appear and you won't be able to switch to Mass Storage Mode. A lot of people say they don't have this issue, but both mine and my friend's and others online do. So maybe try to plug it into your computer using some off brand cable and see if it works. If it does, then ignore what I said, if it doesn't, then you probably have one of the weird Moto specific ones. Can't explain it, but it is happening.

 

[ConqSoft]

No Bluetooth support on the head unit?

 

[matto524]

The Bluetooth connection requires a Bluetooth interface, something like $150. I would much rather just use the aux cord if it comes to that

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[mattman5000]

I just went out and tried it with my Droid X. At first it didn't work, said "device error". I started trying various combinations of plugging/unplugging the usb cable, powering the HU on with the cable already connected, connecting the cable after powering on HU, etc., I got it to work one time. I was looking at the phone when all of a sudden it started playing music. I could then browse the folders on the SD card. I turned it off and back on and it didn't work anymore. I'm not exactly sure what I did to get it work that one time and I could not get it work again after attempting various steps as before. So I guess it sort of works, but it is not reliable. I'm using a off-brand cable that is known to work when I connect to a computer.

I don't update my music collection very often, so I just use a memory stick and leave it connected all the time. I also have an old Omnifi hard drive based player connected to the aux inputs. I prefer using that because navigating files/folders on the Alpine is kind of tedious. As brad92 said, there is also a limit of files per folder. It is actually 100 files per folder on the Alpine. I discovered that one time when I tried listening to an audiobook that had hundreds of files in a single folder. After the 100th played, it skipped to the next folder. I had to re-organize the files into multiple folders of 100 each.

 

[BroidDrionic]

I just use the car dock from moto, it comes with a crazy usb-to-audio cable (so yes, we can get audio out via usb, but only with the various docks) and a 850 mA (super fast) charger. Just plug in the 3.5mm jack into the aux input and it works great. You aren't going to get any better or worse sound quality from either usb or an aux input.

Edit: Also, I know for sure the factory stereo in my mother's Fiat can play music from the bionic over usb no problem, no folder size limitations or anything. Also, the unit I installed in my boat (link) can play music from my Bionic no problem over usb. But why would you want to use your radio's interface to access your music when the music interface on the bionic is so BEAUTIFUL?!

 

[k1ngr4t]

You can also try a service like Google Music, a music-streaming cloud, to see if that makes any difference.

 

[matto524]

BroidDrionic, the HU only allows you to control the music through its interface. The aux cord wouldn't have this issue obviously, so I'm leaning towards that option

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